The utility selected Burns & McDonnell to provide program management and construction management services during the first phase of the plan. We have oversight of the three design build contractors implementing the phased transmission and distribution projects, as well as a third-party logistics firm that was contracted to handle the materials needed for the $1.3 billion first phase. We are also responsible for owner’s engineering, project controls, permitting and environmental compliance, stakeholder engagement, real estate, outage coordination and more.

Targeted electrical distribution reliability improvements are a major component of this phase of the program. Many lines are being converted from overhead lines to underground, where they will be less susceptible to outages caused by trees contacting lines or vehicular collisions. Automated line devices are being installed to quickly isolate outages and minimize the number of customers affected when issues arise. We are adding connections to enable greater flexibility to reroute power in the event of an outage. Some lines are being relocated to improve their accessibility for repair crews, and other aging lines are being strengthened with material and technology upgrades.

At higher voltage levels, we are coordinating transmission improvements statewide, including proactive replacement of aging assets to reduce the risk of failures. Transmission line conductor is being replaced with modern materials to better withstand weather and aging. Additionally, at some electrical substations, we are managing targeted replacement of older major equipment, including circuit breakers and transformers. At others containing significant quantities of aged equipment, the substations are being rebuilt.

The projects under the umbrella of the Grid Investment Plan are being tailored to each community based on current infrastructure and needs for investment. Project teams are coordinating with local stakeholders to maintain open communications, minimize disruptions, and provide safe implementations of upgrades and replacements.

Approximately 280,000 customers will benefit from the power system projects included in the first phase of the improvement program. Approximately 1,700 miles of power lines — both distribution and transmission — are being upgraded in this phase, along with 36 substations being enhanced. Stronger materials and reconfigured circuits will improve the reliability and enhance the redundancy of the system, resulting in fewer, smaller outages and better overall customer satisfaction.

Twenty months into the first phase, 2 million working hours already had been completed. More than 1,600 jobs had been created in the state as Georgia Power focuses on optimizing its service for electric utility customers.

The ongoing successes and lessons learned in implementing the Grid Investment Plan are expected to pay dividends in the form of establishing standards and benchmarks for future phases of program.